The final Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island was cancelled due to treacherous conditions, with persistent rain and poor visibility making racing unsafe. Organisers called off the race despite a sell-out crowd, and the Moto3 and Moto2 races were also abandoned.
“Limited visibility has resulted in the cancellation of the Australian MotoGP,” organisers said. The decision denied Ducati’s Marc Márquez the chance to stretch his world championship lead over injured Aprilia rival Jorge Martin.
An inglorious end to a long era
The cancellation brought an inglorious end to nearly three decades of MotoGP at the waterfront circuit, which has been a staple on the calendar since 1997. The Australian race will move to a city-centre street circuit in Adelaide next year.
Promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment wanted to broaden its appeal and shift the event to Melbourne’s Albert Park, which hosts the Australian Formula One. The Victoria state government was adamant it should remain at Phillip Island.
Martin escapes further damage
For Martin, the cancellation was an escape. He had been ruled out of the race with a fractured forearm sustained in a crash during Saturday’s sprint, which was won by Márquez. Martin risked sliding further behind the seven-time world champion with only four rounds of the season to go, starting next week in Malaysia.
Instead, he will leave Australia just 10 points adrift. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi is third in the standings, 50 points behind Márquez.
Martin's fitness and the move to Adelaide
Whether Martin can ride at Sepang remains to be seen. His team said in a statement that the break was not as bad as initially thought and he would not need to return home to Spain for surgery.
“The only confirmed injury is a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius,” Aprilia said, meaning the bone remains aligned. “Consequently the rider will not be returning to Spain and will undergo the necessary treatment over the coming days.”
With negotiations breaking down, South Australia stepped in and secured the race for six years from 2027 in Adelaide, marking the first MotoGP to be held in a city-centre location.
